Ice-can lifter.



I. J. VEST.

IUE GAN LIFTERL APPLIGATION FILED 11mm, 1911.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

fhl/fn ISI-IAM JASPER VEST, 0F NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA.

ICE-CAN LIFTER.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 16, 1911.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 666,212.

T o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IsHAM J. VEST, a citi zen of the United States,residing at New Iberia, in the parish of Iberia and State of Louisiana,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Can Lifters, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for gripping the upper inner sideportions of ice cans, such as are employed in ice factories, and liftingthe same from position, in order that the block of ice formed thereincan be readily removed.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection a key being shown in elevation, a portion of a can in section,and the parts in gripping position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4t is a section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

In these drawings 1 represents a pipe section vertically slotted asshown at 2. End caps 3 are threaded on the pipe 1 and these caps carryinwardly projecting sleeves 4. Pins 5 work in the pipe, and on oppositesides of the slot 2, the sleeves t forming a bearing for the pins. Attheir inner ends the pins have heads 6 and adjacent their outer endscollars or flanges 7 which are adapted to bear on the inner ends of thesleeves f1 and limit outward movement of the pins. Collars 8 are securedon the pipe 1 at the ends of the slot 2. Springs 9 are placed in thepipe and about the pins and normally draw and hold the pins in inner orclosed position.

A key 10 works vertically through the slot 2, the key having a shank 11connected to the body portion by beveled edges 12. The

lower end of the key is provided with shoulders 14. which engage thecollars 8, and a link of any kind, as at 13, is secured to the upper endof the key, so that any suitable lifting means may be used for drawing acan upwardly.

Vhen the key is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the pins are entirelywithin the pipe and the device can be dropped into the upper portion ofa can. Upward pull on the key causes the beveled edges 12 to engage theheads 6 and force the pins into positive engagement with the sides A ofa can.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the kind described, a longitudinallyslotted pipe, spring held pins arranged in the pipe, and a key workingthrough the slot and having beveled portions adapted to force said pinsoutwardly.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a pipe, caps litting theends of the pipes, inwardly extending sleeves carried by the caps, pinsworking in said sleeves, a key having a beveled portion workingtransversely through the pipe and engaging the inner ends of the pins,and springs adapted to draw said pins inwardly, as and for the purposeset forth.

3. An ice can lifter comprising a pipe section adapted to resttransversely within the can, pins carried by said section and adapted tobe projected therefrom into engagement with the sides of the can,springs normally holding said pins within the pipe, and a beveled keyworking loosely and transversely through the pipe and engaging said pinsfor the purpose of forcing them outwardly.

ISHAM JASPER VEST.

Witnesses PAUL E. VOORHIES, EMILE SIMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained foi` ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

